Chapter 35: The Great Flower
Early in the morning, in the inn’s bed. Outside the window came the sounds of shouting and vehicles.
Ji Ma finally escaped from another nightmare of jumping off a building, her heart racing. She opened her eyes and saw George sitting straight at the desk.
It was just a dream, just a dream.
As her heart, which was racing from fear, slowly calmed down, her tense muscles relaxed as well.
The red double bed was wide and large. Ji Ma felt very empty and unaccustomed being alone; she was used to waking up among the maids’ slender arms and long, white legs every day.
Ji Ma sat up in bed, and the thin blanket slipped from her slender shoulders, curling up like a tail.
“Sigh.” She sighed deeply.
She missed the warm bodies of the maids; it was all because of that damned virgin.
“Ji Ma, what’s wrong?” George turned his head and looked at her. “You’re so young and already sighing.”
Isn’t it your fault?
Ji Ma felt a wave of exhaustion but soon rallied herself.
She was steadily advancing on the generous path of strengthening and revenge. Although half of her hard-earned money was taken by this bad person George, she still got 5013 gold and 23 silver, and a key to the treasury.
Even though George spanked her yesterday, so what? The higher the road, the higher the magic; he was still tricked by her.
Thinking of this, Ji Ma became full of fighting spirit and smiled back, “It’s nothing.”
George nodded, “That’s good. After you freshen up, we need to go to the market area to buy some things; it may take all day.”
“All day?”
“I realized I need quite a few things.” Saying this, George picked up a densely written sheet of paper from the desk.
“Okay, I’ll be ready right away.”
Ji Ma felt a pang in her heart; not only was half of her hard-earned money robbed, but she also had to accompany him and watch him spend her money.
She lightly jumped off the bed and ran behind the screen to freshen up.
A quarter of an hour later.
Ji Ma, holding a sword in her arms, and George stepped into a market area that resembled an arena.
The market area was located within a building resembling the ancient Roman coliseum. The central space was packed with people, everywhere there were display stands, and slave traders brought their “goods” onto wooden platforms to show everyone.
As soon as the two entered the market area, a slave trader on the wooden platform lifted the covering of a beautiful young woman with brown skin, exposing her private parts to the public. There was an uproar below; the brown-skinned woman bit her lip and turned her head away.
The slave trader became more excited and shouted:
“A precious and sexy virgin! Once you break her in, she’ll cling to you every day!”
The crowd below became even more lively.
Ji Ma’s attention was drawn to the brown-skinned girl. The girl was trying hard to turn her head away, with tears falling from her chin.
Down below, a group of men, with lust in their eyes, looked like wolves ready to pounce, as if they could tear the brown-skinned girl into pieces at any moment.
Swindlers and a bunch of fools; brown skin and promiscuity have nothing to do with each other.
As Ji Ma was thinking this, George tugged at her arm, stepped onto the wide stairs leading up to the next level. Each level was surrounded by a circle of entities. The clamor behind them quickly faded away.
“Ji Ma.” George suddenly spoke.
“Mm?”
“Don’t be too sentimental.”
What is with this sympathetic look?
Ji Ma was puzzled, “What do you mean?”
“I thought that when Ji Ma saw her, she would think of her own background, hatching just to become someone else’s slave.”
Ji Ma’s mouth twitched, but she soon smiled and said, “I’m not sentimental; meeting you, George, is my luck.”
It’s the truth.
George was momentarily stunned, and a smile also appeared on his face, “Meeting you is also my luck.”
Hooked a damned virgin.
Ji Ma’s smile grew brighter, hugging the giant sword in her arms and humming a tune off-key.
However, she soon couldn’t be happy anymore.
“Customer, this outfit requires fifty gold coins.” The shopkeeper was an old man with a handlebar mustache. “Plus matching gemstone accessories, the total comes to two hundred fifty gold.”
“Buy.”
George nodded.
Are you going to attend an emperor’s banquet or something? Buying such extravagant things!
Ji Ma roared in her heart but couldn’t think of a reason to refute. She could only lift the money pouch, take out a wrapped bag, and inside each bag were fifty gold coins. In no time, there were five bulging pouches on the counter.
“You’re so generous, customer; we’ll arrange for someone to deliver the clothes and accessories to your inn.”
The old man smiled as he had his servant collect the pouches. Ji Ma could only watch helplessly as her hard-earned money disappeared into the pockets.
Why buy such luxurious clothing? As a frugal holy warrior, you could buy a piece of rag for a copper coin and be done.
The torturous shopping continued.
“Customer, you have an excellent eye; this bottle of healing potion has divine power and can immediately heal injuries—.”
“Buy.”
“Fifty gold coins, thank you!”
“Customer, this…”
“How much?”
“Eighty gold coins.”
“Buy.”
Ji Ma felt as though she could hear the gold coins pouring out of her pocket. You clearly have healing abilities; why buy healing potions?
After going around in circles, nearly six hundred gold coins had been spent.
Ji Ma was in a terrible mood; anyone would feel bad seeing their hard-earned money squandered like this. The amount spent could cover nearly two years of lodging at the inn.
Anything related to magic seems to become particularly expensive.
“Finally done buying.”
George said contentedly while carrying his backpack.
“Yeah, finally done.” Ji Ma listlessly looked down at the noisy marketplace, “Can we go back now?”
She just wanted to leave this sad place as soon as possible.
“Sir Knight.”
A well-dressed servant in black, wearing a feathered hat, approached, “I’ve heard you’re looking to buy magical items; I hope I’m not mistaken.”
“Look, in less than half a day, the reputation of the big spender has spread throughout the entire market.” Ji Ma complained.
George nodded.
“By coincidence, my master has created some magical curiosities and is opening the shop today. Would you be interested?”
“No, I’m not.” Ji Ma said, “My master believes that magic is a shortcut and recklessly using magical equipment will undermine one’s courage and lose the blessings of the goddess. Thank you, goodbye, we must be going.”
George tapped Ji Ma’s head and said, “Lead the way.”
At the highest level, a dimly lit store door faced north; it was peaceful and quiet, unlike the bustling market.
“Opening a shop in such a secluded place, it really just needs a sign at the door that says, ‘I don’t want to do business.'”
“This lady, those who can afford the prices of our products know this place. Those who can’t, would never find it here.” The servant spoke with pride, “Occasionally, only the local lords come here when they don’t need custom magical items, and my master would personally visit the shop; today, you’re very lucky.”
“Sounds quite proud; indeed, who wouldn’t be happy finding a job where you can slack off every day?”
The three of them entered the store.
The master that the servant spoke of was inside, sitting at a table across from them, flipping through books.
Contrary to the common stereotypes, the store owner, engaged in intellectual work, was muscular with a shiny bald head. He was bare-chested and wore a silver chain around his neck, looking more suited for an underground fighting arena than a shop.
Ji Ma almost mistook him for the alchemist selling potions that day.
But it’s all the same; they’re all in it to swindle money, Ji Ma thought.
After some ordinary small talk, George conveyed his needs through Ji Ma.
“You need ‘defense bracers’?” The bald shop owner pushed up the glasses on his nose, the only item on him that matched his identity. “Defense bracers are quite a standard magical item, the difficulty isn’t great, but you’ll need to consider.”
Here comes the money-sucking setup.
“If it’s too expensive, forget it; my master can’t tolerate being made a fool of.”
“Young maid, hasn’t your master taught you not to interrupt?”
“Speak.” George asked.
“Many people misunderstand defense bracers, thinking that wearing them will definitely improve their defense, but that’s not true.” The bald shop owner said, “According to the terminology, it provides ‘armor enhancement,’ and the plate armor you’re wearing also provides ‘armor enhancement,’ which will conflict with each other.”
“From its defensive principle, it creates a force field armor on the wearer, invisible and weightless. This means if you’re wearing armor, it will become ineffective. It’s just like you can’t wear two sets of plate armor; that’s a cardinal rule.”
Incredibly ignorant! I know a Michelin warrior who can wear three sets of full plate armor and also wear defense bracers, tougher than an iron turtle.
“I’ll buy it for her.”
George pointed at Ji Ma.
“Her?” The shop owner’s gaze finally landed on Ji Ma for the first time. “That’s fine; you’re truly generous, willing to invest such a large sum of gold for your pet.”
Ji Ma resisted the urge to flip him off.
“…But, unfortunately, we don’t have defense bracers in stock.”
“Forget it.” George said.
Great! After spending all this time, I got nothing, except a heap of soon-to-expire potions.
Ji Ma said, “Can we go now, master?”
“Cough cough.” George nudged Ji Ma with his foot to indicate his discomfort with that title. He took out a piece of paper and handed it to the bald shop owner. “I need to order this; these are my requirements.”
When will it be ready?
Ji Ma stood on her tiptoes to see what was written on the paper but was pressed down by George again.
The bald shop owner took it, glanced over, and said, “Within my capabilities, but there are many functions, quite troublesome, and the price may be high. Six thousand gold, and need one thousand gold as a deposit.”
Saying this, he touched the silver medal hanging around his neck, which seemed to symbolize the bald shop owner’s strength and also showed his professionalism.
“Can it be done?”
“It can.”
“Is the price reasonable?”
“It’s reasonable.”
All the truth.
George nodded in satisfaction.
“Lord George!” Ji Ma quickly said, “This morning we already spent six hundred and thirteen gold.” Your money is simply not enough.
“Please wait a moment.” George told the bald shop owner, pulling Ji Ma out of the store, extending his hand and quietly saying, “Ji Ma, lend me three thousand gold.”
I knew it! Saying he would share the money with me but actually just wants to keep it safe. Hypocrite! Bad person! A wasteful spendthrift.
Ji Ma felt resentment toward George in her heart, but outwardly she didn’t show it. She just curiously asked again, “Do you really need it? It’s a large sum.”
“Very much needed.”
“Okay, I support you.” Ji Ma said, “You don’t need to pay it back.”
She admired her acting skills, clearly wanting to tear him into pieces but putting on a loyal face.
After paying the money.
Ji Ma felt as if her heart had been emptied.
That night, as she fell asleep, Ji Ma had another nightmare. She dreamt that she found that all the money in the bank had been transferred away by her ex-wife, leaving only a zero in the balance.
